Chapter 399: You Dare Trespass in My Office?

Chapter 399: You Dare Breach My Guard Post?

"Even if Kamakura is but a painted skin, where anyone who dons it becomes the King of Kamakura, there must still be a definitive puppeteer lurking behind him."

Xu Zhun spoke in a low, heavy voice. "It's just that trying to exhume this individual from such a tangled mess of clues is certainly not something that can be achieved in short order. More importantly, there is simply no longer any need for it."

"Indeed."

Yang Baize nodded in agreement. "We can all deduce this much, so the Office of the Pacification Commissioner has undoubtedly realized it too, to say nothing of the Thousand-Household Guard Post. After all, the likes of us are merely spectators. Those who have now taken the stage to perform are the New Donglin Party and the White Jade Capital."

At the mention of the White Jade Capital, Xu Zhun let out a resentful, indignant snort.

"These Daoist bandits who have entered the Wa Territory are far too arrogant these days. They are hunting down members of the Akechi clan everywhere, utterly regardless of the common folk, leaving a trail of bloody massacres across various cities. They only refrained from making trouble here in Inuyama Castle; otherwise, had they fallen into this old man's hands, I would have ripped the Daoist foundations out of their bellies one by one!"

"These Daoist bandits are not merely undisciplined mavericks from the various sects of the Daoist Sequence; many among them are so-called 'Daoist Seeds' and geniuses. When people like that arrive in a remote backwater like the Wa Territory, they are true dragons crossing the river. It is only natural that they should be overbearing and imperious."

Yang Baize smiled and said, "But do not let your anger get the better of you, Elder. The deeds they are committing now are being quietly recorded by many in the shadows. Without clearing these debts entirely, they will absolutely never leave the Wa Territory."

Xu Zhun pondered for a moment. "Looking at it this way, the Edo Rebellion that erupted not long ago was a play where someone discarded the pawn to save the rook, abandoning the painted skin of the Kamakura King?"

Yang Baize flattered him with a mischievous grin. "Elder Xu, your insight is piercing indeed. Your nephew is full of admiration."

"You boy, stop making sport of me."

Xu Zhun knitted his brows and said, "If Kamakura was the abandoned pawn, then who was the rook being protected? Black Dragon Capital?"

The smile vanished from Yang Baize's face. He hesitated for a brief moment, and finally, he shook his head slowly.

"I do not know."

"I certainly know."

Chen Qisheng gritted his teeth, cleanly stripping a chunk of meat from an iron skewer, and spoke in a muffled, indistinct voice, "On the surface, Kamakura appeared to assault Black Dragon Capital, exposing their hidden secrets. In truth, it was merely throwing up a smoke screen to help Black Dragon Capital shed its skin and escape."

"What does that mean? Why can't I make heads or tails of it?"

Beside a bustling, fiery barbecue grill, Zhongjia, who was sitting on a camp stool to the right, looked completely bewildered, forgetting even to turn the skewers held in his hand.

"Daoist Chen, do you mean to say that the Kamakura King of Honghu is actually someone from Black Dragon Capital?"

"Your comprehension is quite something!" Chen Qisheng remarked with an air of feigned surprise.

Just as Zhongjia's brow relaxed and a look of joy began to dawn on his face, he heard Chen Qisheng continue with a sigh, "That you could misinterpret my meaning to such an extent is something even this Daoist Master did not anticipate. By the way, Zhongjia, which sequence do you belong to?"

"The Military Sequence."

Zhongjia's face stiffened, and he spoke in a muffled, sullen tone.

Chen Qisheng gave an "Oh," nodding with an expression that screamed *no wonder*, and said, "Then it is entirely forgivable."

"Then I also know why you, Daoist Master, were surrounded by others."

Chen Qisheng was completely mystified. "Why?"

Zhongjia chuckled, extending his hand to offer a handful of skewers to Chen Qisheng. "You are also entirely forgivable."

"If it wasn't one of Black Dragon Capital's own, then who exactly is Kamakura, and why help them?"

The speaker was a man with graying temples, sitting tall and upright with an unyielding demeanor—none other than Qiu Long, the Hundred-Household of the Jimeji Castle Jinyiwei.

"Hundred-Household Qiu Long, you are making things difficult for this brother of yours. I am no divine charlatan capable of casting horoscopes and calculating fates. Even what I just said was a mixture of blind guessing and conjecture; just take it as a bit of amusement."

Chen Qisheng spoke in a slow, deliberate manner, "However, there is one point I am quite certain of: this time, Kamakura's assault on Black Dragon Capital did indeed find a path of survival for the Akechi clan, who had already become lambs waiting for the slaughter."

"You call this a path of survival?"

Qiu Long was full of doubt. "Right now, Black Dragon Capital has collapsed, and the actual controllers, the Akechi clan, are scattered and fleeing. On the surface, they are wanted by the Office of the Pacification Commissioner, and in the shadows, they are being pursued by both us and you. They have likewise lost any place to stand; what kind of path to life is this?"

"You said it yourself just now: the Akechi clan is currently wanted and hunted. Looked at from another perspective, this proves that many among them are still alive. The difference lies precisely in this single thread of hope!"

Chen Qisheng lowered his brow, the orange-red firelight from the grill reflecting in his eyes, flickering continuously.

"In truth, Black Dragon Capital had long been targeted by the people of the Daoist Sequence, and its uprooting was merely a matter of time. The reason they didn't move then was because those Daoist bandits were wary of each other, acting as mutual checks. No one wanted to be the cicada that catches the insect; everyone wanted to be the final, well-fed bird. However, this stalemate could not last too long, and eventually, someone with high skill and bold courage would step forward to strike."

"The Akechi clan clearly realized this as well, which is why the Kamakura King suddenly emerged to attack Edo Castle, moving ahead of that pack of Daoist bandits. Once the situation turned chaotic, many who pretended to be blind could no longer maintain their disguise."

Chen Qisheng glanced at Qiu Long and continued, "At this point, if the Daoist Sequence wishes to intervene further, there are far more things they must consider. After all, this is the territory of the Confucian Sequence, and we are all illegal immigrants; we still need to preserve some semblance of mutual respect. With this bit of breathing room, the Akechi clan just happened to seize the opportunity to pack up and slip away."

Chen Qisheng gave a cold laugh. "Otherwise, had that pack of Daoist bandits struck first, the Akechi clan probably wouldn't have even stood a chance to run."

On the surface, Qiu Long maintained a stern and grim expression, but within his heart, tempestuous waves were churning.

As a Jinyiwei Hundred-Household responsible for the security of an entire city, Qiu Long was horrified to discover at this moment that he was completely unaware of much of the information revealed in Chen Qisheng's words!

To be caught in the eye of a storm yet remain ignorant of what caused it.

This was an extremely perilous signal, proving that the current situation in the Wa Territory was immensely complex and had already begun to slip beyond the control of the Jinyiwei.

Crucially, the Thousand-Household Guard Post had shown absolutely no reaction to this day, nor had it issued any clear directives to them.

This could not help but cause Qiu Long's heart to sink, his face betraying his anxiety.

"Hundred-Household Qiu Long, you are worrying yourself over nothing; when the sky falls, there will naturally be taller men to prop it up. Your Jinyiwei's Thousand-Household Su is a figure capable of holding up the heavens with a single hand in the Wa Territory. In the eyes of that elder, these current affairs are nothing more than children playing house."

"As this humble Daoist sees it, Thousand-Household Su is deliberately letting things slide. The old gentleman also wishes to see what the Wa pirates, the New Donglin Party, and the White Jade Capital are actually trying to achieve. Otherwise, on the day of the Edo Rebellion, could that flock of Honghu who entered the city have escaped the grasp of that ink-armor known as Chizu?"

*Clack.*

Chen Qisheng tossed a scarlet fire-talisman into the fading grill and shouted at Zhonglou, who was still dazed, "What are you staring at? Turn them quickly, they're going to burn."

"Ah."

Zhonglou snapped back to his senses, hurriedly flipping the meat skewers on the rack, while Chen Qisheng grabbed the seasoning jar beside him and sprinkled spices over them.

"Daoist Chen, have you seen our Thousand-Household's ink-armor?" Zhonglou pressed Chen Qisheng, his face filled with yearning.

"I haven't seen it either, but there are plenty of rumors circulating within the Daoist Sequence regarding this Chizu."

Chen Qisheng chuckled, "Do you know why there are virtually no members of the Mohist Sequence to be seen in the Wa Territory?"

As the spices landed on the scorching chunks of meat, seared by the flames emanating from the talisman, pale yellow droplets of oil crackled and dripped down, and an enticing aroma rose, wafting out in all directions.

At that moment, by the entrance of the guard post, a round-faced Daoist stood rooted, smelling this noseful of greasy aroma, the expression on his face instantly becoming even more sullen and unsightly.

Three days ago, the news that Akechi Nagano, a pivotal figure within Black Dragon Capital, was hiding in the outskirts of Himeji Castle had spread like wildfire.

Many from the Daoist Sequence who had infiltrated the Wa Territory moved upon hearing the wind, among whom the largest and most powerful faction was the Daoist Sequence originating from Gezao Mountain.

As one of the Four Great Daoist Mountains capable of standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Qingcheng, Longhu, and Maishan, Gezao Mountain shared the domestic Jiangxi Province with Longhu Mountain; its heritage and strength were naturally beyond question.

This time, they had dispatched a full eighteen elite youths from the younger generation, divided into two teams to enter the Wa Territory and vie for the quota of Earthly Immortal.

The leader of the team to which this round-faced Daoist belonged was named Luo Tian, a Daoist of the Fifth Rank with a distinguished lineage. He was arrogant and imperious, employing heavy-handed methods, and held the Daoists of other factions in absolute contempt.

Akechi Nagano, being a crucial clue, was naturally viewed by them as a prize already in their pocket.

Yet, during the capture of Akechi Nagano, twists and turns had arisen repeatedly, culminating in an unexpected series of errors that allowed Chen Qisheng—a mere Celestial Master of Longhu Mountain of the Sixth Rank, a Landscape Wanderer—to exploit a loophole and snatch the vital head right from under their noses.

Furthermore, during the subsequent pursuit, Chen Qisheng had actually managed to slay one of their own in a counter-kill.

Having lost face, the crowd from Gezao Mountain was consumed by a murderous intent, pursuing him relentlessly all the way. To their surprise, Chen Qisheng had plunged straight into the Himeji Castle Jinyiwei guard post.

What perplexed them even more was that the Himeji Castle Jinyiwei had actually taken him in and granted him protection.

For a time, the people of Gezao Mountain refrained from acting out of fear of breaking the pottery, which led to the current stalemate.

The round-faced Daoist looked at the low threshold of the guard post before his feet, the expression on his face wavering with indecision.

If he did not cross it, any talk of capturing Chen Qisheng would be out of the question.

To cross over, that would be nothing but a bold trespass into the Imperial Guard’s residence. If this were back on the Empire’s mainland, he wouldn’t hesitate for a moment. But here, in the Wa region, these guards of theirs weren’t soft pawns to be pushed around.

“Luoyun, we don’t have much time to waste here!”

In the midst of his hesitation, a cold voice rang out behind him.

Luoyun’s mouth went dry. He longed to ask the man beside him, *Since Chen Qisheng’s turned traitor here, what can I possibly do? Haven’t I already failed to snatch anyone from the Ji family’s manor?*

If you’ve got the nerve, come on then! Let me grind my teeth here!

Alas, these words could only stay unspoken in his heart. After all, Chen Qisheng had escaped from his own hands, and even killed a fellow disciple of the Lu family, so the fault lay with him first. It was only natural that he’d been pushed into this situation.

“Ah.”

Luoyun sighed inwardly, tentatively taking a half-step forward.

The black-gold general’s blade rose from the courtyard, its curved hilt glinting as it met Luoyun’s gaze. The two locked eyes, and Luoyun instantly froze.

The general saw he meant no harm, so he said nothing, picking up a skewer and munching on it lazily.

“Dogs and their masters! Foxes borrowing the tiger’s might!”

Luoyun’s blood boiled. He took a deep breath, steeling himself, and shouted at the three men lounging in the manor’s courtyard, roasting meat: “Chen Qisheng, you’re surrounded now!”

Half his words were cut short as the heavily armored man thrust out his neck, eyebrows raised, glaring: “Who the hell are you to surround our manor? Say it again if you’ve got the guts!”

Luoyun’s face went pale. He forced himself to ignore the brute, continuing: “If you hand over the long-necked spirit root, and give us a life for Lu family disciple’s death, we’ll let you return to Longhu Shan to rebuild your sect.”

“Fine then.”

A black shadow, supported by a talisman, flew out of the door and landed in Luoyun’s arms, the stench of decay nearly knocking him over.

Luoyun flicked his sleeve, sending the rotted skull flying into the dirt. “Chen Qisheng!”

“What? I already said I’d give you whatever you want. Why’re you so angry?”

“Don’t play dumb. We want what’s in that long-necked spirit root’s head!”

“Then tell me clearly. How was I supposed to know what you wanted if you didn’t spell it out?”

Chen Qisheng chewed something foul, his hair matted, his robes filthy, utterly unlike a cultivator of principle.

He brushed his sleeve, “I’ve got nothing but that in here.”

“Impossible. That root’s been in your hands long enough to finish the soul-seeking. It’s done!”

“Not yet. You lot chased me too fast. I hadn’t even gotten to finish the job before his brain matter rotted through. Look for yourself—how’s it smell now?”

“You—”

Luoyun knew he was stalling, yet found no counterargument. A flush of frustration rose in his chest.

“Move!”

At that moment, a deep *thwack* echoed behind him.

A shadow loomed from the side. Luoyun turned, seeing a tall, lean youth with sharp eyes and a blade-etched brow. He wore a pitch-black Daoist robe, its surface studded with brilliant talismans like stars against midnight.

The disciple trembled, then stepped aside, bowing: “Senior brother!”

“Lu Tian.”

Chen Qisheng violently spat out the bone he’d been chewing. His eyes, like bloodstained ink, blazed with fury.

Enemies meeting, their hearts burned red.

Chen Qisheng’s flying sword and the talisman-bound spirit-binding chain both shattered against the newcomer’s hands.

The Ji family’s manor, two zhang wide, now blocked by seven towering figures.

*Step.*

A pale-blue cloudboot pressed against the threshold. Instantly, the entire manor bristled with the Imperial Guard—swords and spears drawn, their blades gleaming.

“You dare assault my manor?”

The general pushed up from his kneeling position, his face dark with fury. Behind him, dozens of fully armed guards poured from the upper floors, their blades held at the ready.